West Cumbrian company Chimney Sheep Ltd has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation.

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country and are currently in their 56th year. 

There are four categories: innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

226 organisations received the award in 2022. Chimney Sheep is one of just 51 to receive the award for innovation. 

Business owner Sally Phillips invented the product 10 years ago. In the UK alone there are over 11 million homes built with open chimneys. She said: "Having an open chimney is a terrible waste of energy. It’s like leaving a window wide open all the time. It seemed a no-brainer to develop a chimney blocker made of sheep wool. Wool is a natural insulator, but also breathable, which is important for chimneys in older properties."

Chimney Sheep is a chimney blocker made of felted sheep wool. It lodges in the throat of the chimney when the fire isn’t lit and prevents warm air from the home from being drawn up the chimney.

It saves 5% off household heating bills, which is £95 at today’s utility prices. 

After developing and patenting the Chimney Sheep, Phillips took the product to market in 2012. Sales have grown year on year. In 2012 1700 were sold. In 2021 35,000 Chimney Sheeps were sold. The cumulative total is now 150,000. 

The Award will be presented by the Lieutenant to the Queen at Chimney Sheep’s premises, and Sally Phillips will attend a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by HRH the Prince of Wales.

The business has grown over the years and now employs 11 people. It sells an increasing range of environmentally friendly products. Phillips has set up a Community Interest Company called Buy Land Plant Trees.

20% of the profit from Chimney Sheep Ltd goes to the CIC. To date they have acquired 180 acres of land and planted 65,000 trees with ambitious plans to increase this year on year.

Ms Phillips added: "I want our customers to feel that not only are they buying products that are beneficial to their home or garden, but also beneficial to the wider environment."